Spotify is finally rolling out lossless audio streaming for its Premium subscribers, marking a significant step forward in sound quality for the platform. The update, which has been anticipated since Spotify first teased a “HiFi” tier back in 2021, will allow users to stream music in FLAC format up to 24-bit/44.1kHz.

This means Premium listeners will be able to enjoy higher fidelity playback that preserves much more of the original recording’s detail compared to the current compressed Ogg Vorbis format. While Spotify has long offered adaptive streaming that balances quality and bandwidth, the lossless option will give users full CD-quality playback.

For artists and producers, Spotify says this upgrade ensures that “fans can hear music exactly as it was intended in the studio.” The rollout aligns Spotify with rivals like Apple Music and Amazon Music, both of which already offer lossless tiers at no additional cost.

Early reports indicate that lossless streaming will not be a separate plan but included as part of the existing Premium subscription. This is a departure from Spotify’s earlier plan to launch HiFi as a paid add-on. Instead, Premium subscribers across desktop and mobile apps will begin to see a new “Lossless” option in the audio quality settings in the coming weeks.

Spotify also noted that while most Bluetooth headphones will not fully support lossless playback, users with wired headphones or high-resolution audio devices will experience the best results. The company is expected to update its support pages with more information about compatible hardware.

The addition of lossless audio is the latest move in Spotify’s effort to boost subscriber retention and compete directly with services like Apple Music, which already highlight high-resolution audio as a major selling point. With over 600 million monthly active users, Spotify’s decision to make lossless part of its main Premium plan could quickly make it the most widely used high-quality streaming option in the world.

Specs / Key Details

Cost: Included in Premium plan, no extra fee

Format: FLAC

Resolution: Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality)

Availability: Premium subscribers only

Rollout: Beginning September 2025, gradual global release

Devices: Best experience on wired headphones, DACs, or high-resolution audio systems; limited by most Bluetooth codecs